How to Begin Teaching in Germany

The Strive for Perfection

The Business English market is a large sector in which to look for job opportunities.

Just the names Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, Martin Luther and Beethoven alone conjure up German culture and life. This country is filled with 400-year-old villages, castles and cobblestones, as well as spectacular nature. Exploring the Black Forest or venturing into the Alps will remind you of the beauty of this country.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of its Eastern and Western parts, Germany is by far one of the main players in the EU. The Cold War tension has disappeared, and instead an era of tolerance and experimentation can be found in its place. Berlin is a direct example of this spirit, as well as being the cultural epicentre of Germany. Berlin’s arty vibrant energy, glamour and its down-to-earth attitude endears it to those who visit it. It also contains examples of stunning German architecture.

Food also has a central place in this culture. The winter fairs serving hot wine, schnitzel, sausages, black forest cake and frothy beer are all there for the traveller to savour. Germany also has some of the best infrastructure in the world. This makes it extremely easy to travel and to live. It has brilliant and efficient transport connections. Germany is also an ideal place to explore the rest of Europe. It has nine borders, neighbouring Denmark in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, Austria and Switzerland in the south and France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands in the west.

Teaching Opportunities

Education, knowledge, and the pursuit of perfection mean that education providers need to meet the high expectations that German’s have of their learning experiences. As a result of this, the EFL market is open to those candidates that have a degree, a 120-hour TEFL certificate and are native speakers. The fact that Germany is heavily engaged in international business means that the business English market is a large sector in which to look for job opportunities, as is the adult general English sector. Many business clients are seeking to push their language skills to an advanced level and beyond.

There are fewer opportunities in Berlin and other major cities, due to the competition and expense. It is easier to find work in smaller cities or large towns. When considering a position in Germany, it is important that you factor in the high tax rate before you accept. If your job is not a full-time position, you will be hit with heavy taxes. That is why it is important to try to secure a full-time contract in order to ease your tax bill. Freelancers are particularly hard hit in this way. Most contracts offer approximately 25 hours of teaching.

Teaching Requirements

Degree Requirement	Typical Contract Length	Peak Hiring Seasons	Visa Info	Typical Students	Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency	Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

BA/BS required

12 months

January - December

EU citizenship or work visa

Business professionals, children

1,100 – 2,500 EUR (920 - 2,093 GBP)

1,100 – 2,800 EUR (920 - 2,345 GBP)

Degree Requirement

BA/BS required

Typical Contract Length

12 months

Peak Hiring Seasons

January - December

Visa Info

EU citizenship or work visa

Typical Students

Business professionals, children

Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency

1,100 – 2,500 EUR (920 - 2,093 GBP)

Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

1,100 – 2,800 EUR (920 - 2,345 GBP)

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